How To Clean Hardwood Floors

Maintaining the beauty of any hardwood floor doesn't need to be as difficult as many people seem to make it out to be. In fact, I would argue that knowing how to clean hardwood floors and actually cleaning them is both simple and easy once you know what to do. Here are some quick tips to cleaning hardwood floors and how to avoid damaging them as well.  

Quick Cleaning Tips 

- Sweep wood floors often, at least twice a week, with a soft bristle broom. 

- Vacuum hardwood floors once a week with the brush attachment. 

- Mop with a damp mop, not one with water dripping from it. 

- Use rugs or runners in high traffic areas.  

- Clean up any liquid spills immediately.     

Hardwood Floor No-No's

• Avoid getting water on your wood floors. Water is an absolute enemy to any wood floor.
  
  
• Take off the high heeled shoes or stilettos to avoid putting dents in the floor or scratching up the surface.
  
  
• Don't drag your furniture across a hardwood floor. Place furniture pads under the legs when moving your furniture.
  
  
• Keep your pet's claws trimmed to avoid scratching up the floor. This is often overlooked and a big cause for damage.
  
  
• Never wax a polyurethane finish
  
  
• Don't use ammonia cleaners on wood floors or any oil based soaps.

In most all cases the basics in knowing how to clean hardwood floors apply to all types of floors. Keep them swept up so that dirt and grit do not stay on the surface and get ground in.

Vacuum them once a week to remove any dirt. Use a damp mop to clean them. For spills, scuffs, etc, use a hardwood floor cleaner specifically designed for your wood finish. Finally, keep them maintained by following the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations.

You can find many more tips on cleaning hardwood floors quickly and easily inside the Speed Cleaning Blueprint